"MS Can Not
Rob You of Joy"
"I'm an M.D....my Mom has MS and we have a message for everyone."

- Jennifer Hartmark-Hill MD

Beverly Dean

"I've had MS for 2 years...this is the most important advice you'll ever hear."

"This is how I give myself a painless injection."

Heather Johnson

"A helpful tip for newly diagnosed MS patients."

"Important advice on choosing MS medication "

Joyce Moore

Sunday

Wow! It's no wonder MS is seen as a Cash Cow: THESE MS DRUGS BROUGHT IN THE MOST MONEY LAST YEAR

Teva soaring out in front on a single product and it is no surprise that the Generics pack are waiting in the rear ready for the copaxone patents to expire starting May 2014. However Biogen are backing the most winners with a staggering $5.8 billion worth of business.

#1 Glaterimer acetate Teva $4.3 billion#2 Avonex Biogen Idec $3.0 billion#3 Gilenya Novartis $1.9 billion#4 Tysabri Biogen Idec $1.7 billion#5 Betaseron Bayer $1.1 billion#6 Tecfidera Biogen Idec $0.9 billion#7 Rebif EMD serono $0.6 billion#8 Ampyra Biogen Idec $0.3 billion#9 Aubagio Sanofi $0.2 billion#10 Extavia Novartis $0.2 billionInteresting that sales of Extavia are so much lower than Betaseron, for what is essentially the same product in different packaging. This shows what brand loyalty and a bit of marketing can do. #10. Extavia (interferon beta-1b)Sponsor/Developer: NovartisDosage strength, form, and frequency: Recommended dose is 0.25 mg injected subcutaneously every other day. Generally, start at .0625 mg (0.25 mL) subcutaneously every other day, and increase over a six week period to 0.25 mg (1 mL) every other dayMechanism of action: UnknownIndication: Relapsing forms of MS to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations2013 sales: $159 million#9. Aubagio(teriflunomide)Sponsor/Developer: Genzyme (Sanofi)Dosage strength, form, and frequency: 7 mg and 14 mg tablets, once-daily, with or without foodMechanism of action: Pyrimidine synthesis inhibitorIndication: Relapsing forms of MS2013 sales: About $226 million (€166 million)1#8. Ampyra(dalfampridine) / FampyraSponsor/Developer: Acorda Therapeutics and Biogen IdecDosage form and strength: 10 mg tabletsMechanism of action: Potassium channel blockerIndication: Improve walking in patients with MS2013 sales: $302.301 million#7. Rebif (interferon beta-1a)Sponsor/Developer: EMD Serono and PfizerDosage strength, form, and frequency: 22 mcg and 44 mcg by injection three times per week. Rebif should be administered, if possible, at the same time (preferably late afternoon or evening) on the same three days, at least 48 hours apart each week. Generally, patients should be started at 20% of the prescribed dose three times per week and increased over a four-week period to the targeted dose, either 22 or 44 mcg three times per weekMechanism of action: UnknownIndication: Relapsing forms of MS, to decrease the frequency of clinical exacerbations and delay the accumulation of physical disability.2013 Sales: About $622 million (€460 million) through September 30, 2013#6. Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)Sponsor/Developer: Biogen IdecDosage strength, form, and frequency: Starting dose: 120 mg twice a day, orally, for seven days, followed by maintenance dose after seven days: 240 mg twice a day, orally. Capsules must be swallowed whole and intact. Tecfidera can be taken with or without food.Mechanism of action: UnknownIndication: Relapsing forms of MS2013 Sales: $876 million#5. Betaseron (Betaferon; Interferon beta-1b)Sponsor/Developer: Bayer HealthCareDosage strength, form, and frequency: Recommended dose is 0.25 mg via injection every other day. Generally, patients are advised to start at 0.0625 mg (0.25 mL) via injection every other day, and increase over a six-week period to 0.25 mg (1 mL) every other dayMechanism of action: UnknownIndication: Relapsing forms of MS, to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations2013 sales: $1.05 billion (€779 million) as of September 30, 201#4. Tysabri (natalizumab)Sponsor/Developer: Biogen Idec6Dosage strength, form, and frequency: 300 mg infused intravenously over approximately one hour, every four weeksMechanism of action: Binds to the α4-subunit of α4β1 and α4β7 integrins expressed on the surface of all leukocytes except neutrophils, and inhibits the α4-mediated adhesion of leukocytes to their counter-receptor(s).Indication: Adults with relapsing forms of MS2013 sales: $1.67 billion#3. Gilenya (fingolimod)Sponsor/Developer: NovartisDosage strength, form, and frequency: Recommended dose: 0.5 mg orally once daily, with or without foodMechanism of action: Metabolized into Fingolimod-phosphate, a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator that binds with high affinity to sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors 1, 3, 4, and 5. Fingolimod-phosphate blocks the capacity of lymphocytes to egress from lymph nodes, reducing the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The mechanism of action on MS is unknown but may involve reduction of lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system.Indication: Relapsing forms of MS, to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations and to delay the accumulation of physical disability2013 sales: $1.9 billion#2. Avonex (interferon beta-1a)Sponsor/Developer: Biogen IdecDosage strength, form, and frequency: 30 micrograms once a week is recommended. To reduce the incidence and severity of flu-like symptoms that may occur when initiating Avonex therapy at a dose of 30 micrograms, Avonex may be started at a dose of 7.5 micrograms and the dose may be increased by 7.5 micrograms each week for the next three weeks until the recommended dose of 30 micrograms is achieved.Mechanism of action: UnknownIndication: Relapsing forms of MS, to slow the accumulation of physical disability and decrease the frequency of clinical exacerbations2013 Sales: $3 billion8#1. Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)Sponsor/Developer: TevaDosage strength, form, and frequency: 20 mg/mL daily by injection; 40 mg/mL three times per week by injection (9)Mechanism of action: Not fully understood; believed to act by modifying immune processes that are believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of MS.Indication: Relapsing forms of MS2013 sales: $4.328 billion